National Poetry Recitation Competition 2016 – 2017

The DfE would like to invite organisations to submit proposals to run a national poetry recitation competition for schools in 2016/17. The competition should aim to support improvements in pupils’ understanding of poetry through recitation and remembering. It should aim to develop and support poetry teaching in schools and encourage pupils and teachers to read and immerse themselves in our world-class literary heritage. For information on the DfE’s previously funded national poetry recitation competition run by the Poetry Archive see http://www.poetrybyheart.org.uk/ The competition must contain a Shakespeare element whereby pupils memorise and recite one of Shakespeare’s sonnets. This element is in recognition of Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary celebrations and forms part of the government’s package of Shakespeare activities for schools. Prizes for this strand of the competition have already been secured. The DfE welcomes bid from organisations that are actively pursuing external sponsorship for the poetry recitation competition; if successful this sponsorship will be additional to the funding awarded to the successful contractor to run the competition. The Department has allocated up to £300,000 exclusive of VAT for this contract, the maximum funding available for the competition is £360,000 inclusive of VAT.